Switch-stand.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

M. W. LONG.

SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION-FILED OUT. 12, 1906.

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M. W; LONG.

SWITGH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1906. I

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SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 12, 1906.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OPPIOE.

MALCOLM W. LONG, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AsSIoNOR To THE PENNSYLVANIA STEEL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A OORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. 1

SW|TCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

A licati n fil d October 12,1906. Serial No. 338,631-

To au o/tom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALOOLM W. LONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Harrisburg, Dauphin county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which similar view, but showing the parts in the position in which the operating lever has been thrown over to the opposite side. Fig. 7 is a section on the line Fig. 3. Figs. 8 and 9 are Views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, but showing a modified form of disk. Fig. 10 is a View of the disk shown in Figs. 8 and 9, but looking at the opposite side thereof. Fig. 11 is a section on the line z2, Fig. 8.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic switch-stands, more particularly to that class of automatic switch-stands in which the switch rod is Operatively connected with a. horizontal shaft parallel therewith,

which shaft is provided with a weighted lever-arm which rotates in an are substantially parallel with the plane of the switch-rails.

The object of this invention is to provide, between said weighted lever and the switch, a certain lost 1notion, whereby, when the switch stand is operated by hand, the-work of throwing the switch does not begin until the operator has elevated the lever through a large portion of its arc; yet which, when the switch is operated automatically, (that is, by a train trailing through the points), the resistance of the weighted lever-arm will immediately come into play.

A further object of the invention is to make said lost motion adjustable, whereby the switch-stand is adapted for use With switches of varying throw, and also to take up wear in the same.

is a main track-rail, and 2 a point-rail of a i switch of well known type. the point-rail, 2, is a switch-bar, 3, connected by a bolt, 4 with a rack-bar, 5, adapted to be reoi rocated longitudinally in a guide-way, 6, o the lower portion, 7 of a casing, 7; in which casing is journaled a horizontal shaft, 8, having, secured thereon, a helical gear, 9, whose teeth engage the corresponding teeth of 'a rack, 10, of said rack-bar, 5. Said shaft is also, in this instance, provided with a small helical gear, 11, engaging a segment gear, 12, on a vertical target-shaft, 13, journaled in said casing. The shaft, 8, extends exterior to the casing at the end opposite the track-way, and has, secured thereon, a disk, 14, which disk is provided with lugs, 15, between which lies the lever-arm, 16, whose inner end is loosely mounted on the protruding end of the shaft, 8, and whose outer end is provided with the usual weight, 17. The lugs, 15, are adjustably mounted upon the disk, 14, so that the position and width ofthe space between said lugs within which the arm, 16, lies, may be varied for a purpose hereinafter set forth. In the said preferred form of my invention, these lugs, 15, are secured to the outer face of the disk, 14, by bolts, 18, passing respectively through circular slots, 19, in said disk. The inner faces of these saidlugs being provided with serrations, that engage corresponding serrations 20 on the outer face of the disk adjacent said slots 19.

The operation of the above-described form Extending from of the invention is as follows :Assuming the parts to be inthe positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, that is, with the switch closed, and the lever arm, 16, resting freely upon a stop, 21; if it isdesired to operate the switch by hand, the operator grasps the lever-arm,

l6, and rotates the same upon the shaft, 8, until its u per face comes against the upper lug, 15. ereupon, the engagement of said arm with said lug causes the disk, 14, and consequently the shaft, 8, to be rotated, and so, through the helical gear, 9, and rack, 10, the rack-bar, 5 and switch-bar, 3, are

22, into proper relation to the lever-arm, 16,

moved outwardly, drawing over the pointrail, 2, and so opening the switch; the leverarm, 16, assuming the position shown in Fig. 6. It will be observed that, in operating the switch-stand by hand, on account of the lost motion between the lever-arm, l6, and the upper lug, 15, the work of operating the switch is not thrown upon the lever-arm, 16, until the latter comes against the face of the said upper lug, 15; thereby, giving the operator the benefit of having only the weighted lever to lift during a large portion of its upward rotation. The parts being in the position of said Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5: a train trailing through the switch, and thereby drawing over the point-rail, 2, and hence drawing the switch-bar, 3, and rack-bar, 5, causes the shaft, 8, to be rotated through the rack, 10, and helical gear, 9. This rotation of the shaft, v8, causes the lower lug, 15, on the disk, 14, to engage the under side of the lever-arm, 16, and to rotate the same to the position shown in Fig. 6. The amount and position of the lost motion between the leverarm, 16, and the upper lug, 15, may be readily adjusted by loosening either or both of the bolts, 18, and moving the lug or lugs, 15, to any positions permitted by the slots, 19, and again securing the same in place by tightening said bolts. This adjustment of the relative positions of the lugs, 15, permits the switch-stand to be regulated in accordance with the varying throws of different switches, and also to from time to time takeup any wear in the said switches.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, differs only from that shown in. the other figures in that, instead of making the lugs, 15, adjustable upon the disk, 14, said disk is provided on each face, with lugs, 22, the distance between whose faces respectively varies and the said disk is removably secured on the shaft, 8, in this instance, by having a square hole therethrough, which engages a squared portion, 23, of said shaft.

When it is desired to increase or diminish the lost motion between the lever-arm, 16, and the lugs, 22, the nut, 24, on the outer end of the shaft, 8, is removed, the lever-arm, 16, is also removed, and the disk, 14, is slipped off the end of the said shaft, 8, and replaced in such position as to bring the required lugs,

when the same is replaced upon the shaft and held in position by the nut, 24.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a switch stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-bar adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated therein, the

horizontal shaft journaled in said casing, connections between said shaft and the said bar, whereby rotation of the shaft im arts longitudinal movement to said bar, an the reverse; the lever loosely mounted on said shaft, lugs on said shaft adapted to be engaged by said lever arm, which extends through the space between the said lugs, the said space between said lugs being greater than the width of said lever-arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-bar adapted to be longitudnnally reciprocated therein, the horizontal shaft journaled in said casing, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby rotation of the shaft imparts longitudinal movement to said bar, and the reverse; the lever loosely mounted on said shaft, lugs on said shaft adapted to be engaged by said lever arm, which extends through the space between the said lugs, said space between said lugs being greater than the width of said lever-arm; means for adjusting said lugs whereby the location and width of said space between the lugs may be varied, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a switch-stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-bar adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated therein, the horizontal shaft journaled in said casing, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby rotation of the shaft imparts longitudinal movement to said bar, and the reverse; the lever loosely mounted on said shaft, lugs on said shaft adapted to be engaged by said lever-arm, which extends through the space between said lugs, and means for adjusting said lugs circumferentially to vary the location of said space, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a switch-stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-b ar adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated therein, the horizontal shaft journaled in said casing, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby rotation of the shaft imparts longitudinal movement to said bar, and the reverse; the lever loosely mounted on said shaft, the disk on said shaft, lugs on said disk adapted to be engaged by the said lever-arm, A

which extends through the space between the said lugs,- the said space between said lugs being greater than the width of said leverbeing greater than the Width of said leverarm; means foradjusting said lugs whereby the location and width of said space between the lugs may be varied, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a switch-stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-bar adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated therein, the horizontal shaft journaled in said casing, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby rotation of the shaft imparts longitudinal movement to said bar, and thereverse; the lever loosely mounted on said shaft, the disk on said shaft, lugs on said disk adapted to be engaged by said lever-arm, which extends through the space between said lugs, and means for adjusting said lugs circumferentially to vary the location of said space, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a switch-stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-bar adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated therein, provided with rack-teeth, the horizontal shaft journaled in said casing, parallel withsaid switch-bar, the helical gear on said shaft engaging the rack-teeth of said switch-bar, the disk on said shaft, the lugs on said disk, the lever-arrn loosely mounted on said shaft, extending between said lugs; said disk bemg provided with circumferential slots; the bolts passing through said slots respectively, and securing said lugs to the face of said disk, whereby the relative positions of said lugs may be adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth;

8. In a switch-stand, the combination, with the casing, of the switch-bar, a shaft j ournaled in said casing, connections between said shaft and saidbar, whereby rotation of the shaft imparts longitudinal movement to said bar, and the reverse; the rotatable leverarm, and connections between said lever-arm and said shaft, permitting a lost motion between said lever-arm and said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

. MALCOLM W. LONG. Witnesses WM. R. MiLLER, B. S. WEAVER. 

